A former dairy pasture in California underwent a major transformation after levees were removed to restore tidal wetlands at the Giacomini Wetlands. The restoration allowed tidal waters to return, triggering rapid changes in vegetation and wildlife. Over the following years, salt and brackish marsh expanded, while native-dominated plant communities increased and non-native-dominated communities declined. The response was also visible in bird numbers. Waterbird numbers grew sharply in the initial years after restoration, reaching a record high of approximately 16,000 birds counted on a single day in December 2013. Ten-year monitoring found that the restored wetland had entered a more stable ecological condition.
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